Self Medication Practice among Iraqi Patients in Baghdad City

Abstract

The practice of self medication is continuously increasing worldwide due to its important roles in curing minor conditions or symptoms. This study was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with self medication practice of Iraqi respondents residing in Baghdad City. This study was designed as cross sectional study in which data was collected via direct interviews with respondents using a previously prepared questionnaire. This study investigated 348 respondents from different age groups. The majority of respondents were male aged between 30-60 years, married with secondary or academic level of education and employed with accepted monthly income. The main reason for practicing self medication was previous experience with the same condition followed by considering the current condition simple with no need to consult a physician. A previous prescription was revealed to be the commonest source of information about the self medicated drugs followed by community pharmacies and family members or friends. Flu or common cold was the commonest indication identified for self medication followed by headache, back or muscle pain, dyspepsia, diarrhea and others. Drugs used in treating these conditions were antibiotics, the commonest, followed by paracetamol, antihistamines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cough preparations, antispasmodics, skeletal muscle relaxants, antacids, antidiarrheals and others.

Self-medication practice in Ethiopia: a systematic review

“…Similarly, the patient’s assessment of their ailment as minor was identified as one of the major factors in self-medication in many studies conducted outside Ethiopia 27–35. Prior experience of treating the same condition by self-medication has also been mentioned as the main reason for practicing self-medication 34,35. Studies conducted in other developing countries also mention lack of time to visit the physician and economic problems as the main reason to use self-medication 23,33…”

“…Multiple studies conducted to assess the practice of self-medication outside Ethiopia also reported analgesics as the most widely consumed OTC drugs in self-care 22,23,35,40–43. Antimicrobials were also reported in many studies as commonly used drugs in self-medication 23,34,37,44–46. One review article indicated that the overall estimate of antimicrobial self-medication in low- and middle-income countries was 38.8% 47.…”

Self-medication with Antibiotics in WHO Southeast Asian Region: A Systematic Review

“…Fever and cold were indicated as the most frequent health complaint that led to self-medication in different studies [ 42 - 43 ]. There were also studies that reported respiratory diseases [ 44 ] and gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases [ 45 ] as common illnesses for which self-medication was used. This may be because these illnesses are very common and occur frequently in individuals with experience in treating them.…”

Ongoing strategies to improve the management of upper respiratory tract infections and reduce inappropriate antibiotic use particularly among lower and middle-income countries: findings and implications for the future

“…whether patients can afford to see both a physician and purchase their medicines) and economic benefits. In some situations, pharmacists are the only healthcare professionals available to patients 47,[128][129][130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141] . Self-purchasing of antimicrobials is particularly problematic in LMICs compared with high income countries 49,52,120,121,123,142,143 .…”